"The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left." Eccl. 10:2, NIV. God has spoken. To the right is wisdom, honor, strength, and truth. To the left is...not. I know which way my heart leans. How about yours?

Tuesday, May 06, 2008

The Anti-Wright

Look at the picture of the handsome man to the left. Know who he is? He's Dr. Benjamin Carson, one of the world's preeminent neurosurgeons. He rose to fame in 1987 when he performed the first successful separation of Siamese twins joined at the back of the head. Dr. Carson shows how far any American can go, and what any American can achieve when they put their mind to it. Dr. Carson's story is remarkable, that's why I call him the anti-Wright.

Dr. Benjamin Carson was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1951, when in-your-face racism still stalked America. His father left the family when Carson was young so he and his brother Curtis were raised by their mother, Sonya. Sonya sometimes worked three jobs to support her sons. Rebellious, hot tempered Benjamin was on his way to becoming the stereotypical Black male failure until his mother stepped in.

Seeing the bleak future facing her troubled son, Mama Carson limited tv time for both Benjamin and Curtis and required them to read and write a report on two library books every week. The boys had to turn in the reports to their mother. That was the beginning of Dr. Carson's salvation. For years he'd hated and done poorly in school. Then one day his teacher asked his class a question about rocks. Carson was the only child who knew the answer, an answer he'd learned from the books his mom had made him read.

Suddenly, Benjamin Carson realized that he COULD LEARN! And with that realization came a thirst for knowledge that propelled him through middle school, high school, and university and eventually landed him in that operating room separating those little twins. And what really makes this story amazing is that Benjamin's mother, who'd required him and his brother to turn in book reports to her, had only a third grade education and COULD NOT READ. The book reports had been for her sons' benefit, not hers. By making them read books and write about them Sonya Carson was making her boys learn AND making them love to learn. She was also teaching them the discipline they'd need to be successful in all of life, not just school.

Dr. Carson, who survived a bout with cancer in the '90's, continues to distinguish himself in medicine and has also become a successful speaker and author. He especially seeks to inspire young people to achieve their intellectual potential and develop high character. To that end Dr. Carson created a "creed" which he calls Think Big. Follow this "creed" and you stand a good chance of being a successful and moral human being. Here it is*:

Think Big

T is for Talent. God has given you intellectual talent. Develop it and think of the careers where it will be useful.

H is for Honesty. Live an honest life and you won't have to worry about skeletons coming out of your closet at the worst time.

I is for Insight. Learn from the experience of people who've already gone where you want to go.

N is for Nice. Be nice to others and they will be nice to you.

K is for Knowledge. Knowledge makes you a valuable and needed person whom others will pay to keep.

B is for Books. Books, not television, are where you get knowledge.

I is for In-Depth Learning. Learn for the sake of learning, not just to impress people.

G is for God. Never get too big for your Creator.

This is the stuff Rev. Wright should be teaching in his church, not that the-government-is-out-to-get-you junk. All of us has a choice. We can choose to Think Big and become an inspirational success like Dr. Benjamin Carson, or we can think small and become a loud mouth high priest of the cult of grievance like Rev. Wright. I choose to Think Big. I choose to be an anti-Wright. What's your choice?